Santa Clara County sales tax to increase April 1, 2026

TL;DR

Santa Clara County is raising its sales tax by 0.625%, effective April 1, 2026. Voters passed Measure A in a special election with 57% approval. The increase is expected to generate $330 million annually for local healthcare and public safety services. The tax will expire after five years, on March 31, 2031.

What’s changing

• Effective date: April 1, 2026
• New rate: +0.625% general sales tax in Santa Clara County
• Voter approval: Measure A passed with 57% of the vote
• Duration: Temporary — expires March 31, 2031
• Use of funds: Supports trauma care, ERs, mental health services, and public safety

It’s important to note that Measure A adds to the overall sales tax rate but does not alter the existing breakdown of where current taxes go.

• 7.25% — State of California sales tax
• 0.125% — Santa Clara County (pre-Measure A)
• 1.75% — Valley Transportation Authority and Caltrain (independent agencies)

Who this affects

• Retailers and eCommerce sellers with customers in Santa Clara County
• Finance teams forecasting Q2 sales tax liability
• Platforms needing to update POS and tax rate tables in advance of April 1, 2026

Why this matters

This is a sizable increase — especially for a county that already had one of the higher combined rates in California. A 0.625% hike will compound over time, particularly for high-volume sellers, subscription businesses, and B2B vendors. And while the increase is technically temporary, many voters and political commentators are skeptical that it will expire on schedule.

Next steps

• Flag this for April 1, 2026 — ensure all systems and rate tables update on time
• If you use TaxCloud, you’re covered — we’ll automatically update the county rate
• For fixed or negotiated-price contracts: consider reviewing how the tax increase may affect margins, invoices, or rate cards
• Monitor for additional county tax increases in high-population California counties